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Major CPUC Policy Win For EC-Los Angeles

Posted November 8, 2012

On November 8th, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved an Emerald Cities LA-initiated proposal to insert a workforce development pilot into the newly created Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCal-Ren). This major policy win allows economic development goals and standards for the utility industry’s public sector energy efficiency program. The CPUC was intrigued by potential economic leveraging from their recent ruling (ALJ Ruling June20,2012-D.12.05.015) encouraging local governments to submit regional energy efficiency proposals. EC-LA’s victory was a true collaborative effort, including the essential leadership of Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, the Chair of the LA County Board of Supervisors. The ECC development team included YouthBuild and the Building Construction Trades Department. Equally important were the support and advocacy of our statewide community partners – the California Construction Trades Labor Management Trust, Greenlining Institute, Green for All, Working Partnerships, and the Ella Baker Center -- that were party to the CPUC proceedings.

Over the next year, Emerald Cities Los Angeles will partner with the County of Los Angeles, the CPUC approved administrator of the SoCal-REN, to build a standardized public-private financing platform and a workforce/procurement (WP) program with local hire and procurement standards. SoCal-REN will create a one-stop-shop to facilitate the scaled and rapid retrofitting of government and multi-family buildings throughout the Southern California Region (55 cities), which covers over half of California's cities.

ECC will pilot the WP program on a portfolio of County buildings to achieve net zero emissions. The outcomes of the pilot will be presented to the State Public Utilities Commission for review and consideration for broader state-wide adoption.